Lieboy's Bully Trip to Cancun

Bush informed Fox and Harper they'll need passports from now on to travel from Mexico and Canada to the U.S. and vice versa. He also "told" them he insists upon a guest worker program for illegal immigrants. AKA cheap labor for American companies. The press is referring to them as the "three amigos" but they didn't seem too friendly. Bush's stated priorities are border patrol, energy and the dreaded avian flu. Harper is new to the job and Fox is ready to retire. Bush ran the show. He had the joy of wearing his earpiece in the open for translation purposes...even though he's so "fluent" in Spanish. At the end of the afternoon, Bush described Harper as someone who is in many ways like himself, saying they share "mutual values" and "respect for human life and human dignity."
...
Bush greeted Harper by saying "Hola" – Spanish for "Hello" –. Harper then rode alongside the president in the back of his car and in Bush's private helicopter for a two-hour round trip to the ancient Mayan archeological ruins at Chichen Itza
Our neighbors to the north should just love the part where Bush insists on Canadian passports. Harper is concerned about the lumber trade."We're obviously concerned that if we don't move quickly, properly, on this, that this could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions, you name it," said Harper."That is not helpful to our economy or our relationship."

All of the Chimp's trips require massive amounts of security lest "the people" get anywhere near him. Cancun was no exception. Cancun in security lockdown for Bush visit Ships weren't allowed near, the beaches were patrolled by police in vehicles, and the beach itself was closed while unknown personnel took early morning dips in the ocean. (No word on whether Snotty McClellan was one of them. ) Cars were searched, Cancun was shut down. Protesters were kept far away but they were there. Wherever the pRetzeldent goes, protesters are there too.

Vicente Fox suggested a balance test on the steps of the Mayan ruins to see if Bush was sober. Bush failed the test. Harper helped Fox to lead Bush into a cell inside the ruins where Iraqi prisoners had been flown by the CIA for rendition. Okay, I made that last bit up. Wishful thinking. If he experienced what he inflicts on others it would soon stop. Shitboy has already gone back to Waco...whether to his Crawford fake ranch or Camp David we don't know. The most secretive administration in U.S. history never tells us a thing.

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Bush: "No Speedo Suit Here!"

He's SUCH a comedian.
Bush heads to Mexico, doesn't pack Speedo
But Bush made one thing clear. "No Speedo suit here," he promised.
...
"You're going to ask me if I read the book," Bush said. "Little print, no pictures. Go ahead."
"It's the bible of freedom, yes," the Freedom House official said, prompting laughter and a lighthearted presidential objection.
"I'm the funny guy," Bush said.
When an Egyptian said he wanted to go into politics, Bush had three words of advice: "Go for president."
He finally called on a questioner who had caused a little fuss.
"You've been very anxious," the president said. "This better be a good one. Yes, you've been waving and yelling over there. Waving, yelling, stomping your feet. It's a free society. That's what happens."
...
What an insulting ass he really is.

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McPherson Disenfranchising California Voters

Debra Bowen (candidate for Secretary of State-CA) sent the following:I just learned of an alarming development in our fight for fair and transparent elections: The current Secretary of State, Bruce McPherson, launched a statewide voter registration database system last year that will disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters in California.
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More here:blog

Debra will be on the Al Franken's radio show this Friday. (9am to noon CA time)
Update: Bowen was superb on Franken's show.

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Abramoff Sentenced

Abramoff leaves Miami Court, earlier today. Only 70 months? Where's the justice in that? He says he's a "new man" but looks pretty angry.
Abramoff Gets 70 Months in Prison in Fraud Case
Wednesday, Mar. 29; 02:23 pm
Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 70 months in prison today, the most lenient sentence he could have received under his plea agreement with the Justice Department.
Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former business partner were sentenced on Wednesday to five years and 10 months in prison for fraud related to their 2000 purchase of the SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet.The sentences were the minimum under their plea agreement in the case.

Abramoff and Adam Kidan, who both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud, won't start their sentences immediately so they can continue cooperating in a Washington corruption investigation and a Florida probe into the murder of former SunCruz owner Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis.

In court, Abramoff said the case was "incredibly painful" for himself, his family and his friends.

"In the past few years I have begun the process of becoming a new man," he said.
...

What a about the Indian tribes he bilked out of millions of dollars? And what about the taxpayers and voters in this country whom he shafted as he got DeLay and Burns to do what THEY wanted instead of what WE paid them to do for US?

Gee, I wonder why Andy quit yesterday? Who's he protecting, himself, Rover or Cheney? All of them? Will he take the fall for Katrina too? And not a day goes by that Lieboy doesn't mention 9/11 one way or another. Gotta keep the fear level up.

"Andy Card has served me and our country in historic times: on a terrible day when America was attacked, during economic recession and recovery, through storms of unprecedented destructive power, in peace and in war."-Warmonger-in-Chief

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Hypocritical McCain Sucking Up to Falwell

(click x2 to enlarge)
Mainstream media pundits continue to insult our intelligence and paint McCain as a "maverick" with a mind of his own. Bush whores, in particular Chris Matthews, insist he appeals to "moderate" liberals and conservatives. As an apologist aider and abettor of the Neocon agenda, Matthews has a lot of gall. He and jack-booted Buchanan daily spin tripe and dress it up as truth. Hardball is a tainted source of misinformation and blastfaxes from Rove's desk. Matthews willingly lies for those who wish to dismantle the Constitution. He shoves "candidate" McCain down America's throat as a fait accompli. Matthews doesn't have a clue inside his insulated soundproofed booth. We don't need another theocratic fascist in the White House. McCain is a rubber stamp for BushCheneyCo. His venomous anti-woman, anti-environment, anti-labor voting record is as appallingly regressive and repressive as they come. Instead of standing up to the Bush camp's smears of his family he eagerly lapped it up, exhibiting signs of Stockholm Syndrome. At the recent Tennessee Republican conclave McCain disingenously urged his few supporters to cast their votes for Bush who wasn't on the ballot. Rove must have some juicy pictures.
McCain will do whatever it takes to get the presidential nomination in 2008, arrogantly and falsely believing it's his "turn" and his due because he bent over for Bush, swallowing whatever pride he had left. To corner rightwing fundamentalist Kansas votes he pathetically supports the unenlightened Dark Ages theory of Intelligent Design.

McCain is now snuggling up to Jerry Falwell, courting extreme far right evangelical votes. Falwell does not represent American values. He and his intolerant followers don't respect the beliefs of others and don't support the separation of church and state.
Falwell on the causes of 9/11:"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say: you helped this happen."
McCain is either flip-flopping or a liar. Or Both. Sen. McCain to speak at Liberty McCain once called Falwell an "agent of intolerance" while campaigning in the South Carolina and Virginia primaries in 2000.In that race against then-Governor George W. Bush, McCain denounced both Falwell and Virginia Beach religious broadcaster Pat Robertson. Falwell says he and the senator have worked out their differences. He says McCain's appearance at Liberty is a sign that the senator is wooing evangelical Christians.
McCain isn't the first opportunistic politician to cozy up to religious nuts for money and the televangelist's reach to a captive audience of easily brainwashed uninformed lockstep voters. The Bush thugs did (and do)the same and it worked well for them. Quid pro quo. "Faith based" initiatives emanate from the White House slashing the line between church and state. Bush has inserted "faith" into taxpayer funded emergency services. Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. It's payback for bringing in the sheep.
Newsweek
The religious right strongly believes it helped Bush seal the election. So what does it want in return? What indeed? More money and power. Hardly "Christian" values. What the hell would Jesus say?

McCain claims Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan as his mentors in his book. He gave a pandering eulogy to Goldwater. He references Reagan consistently. McCain must be stupid or have a have a very selective memory. He described Goldwater's impact in this way: "[he] transformed the Republican Party from an Eastern elitist organization to the breeding ground for the election of Ronald Reagan." Reagan would frown on such fawning over fundamentalists. Per Ron Jr., Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage.
Goldwater would not be pleased with McCain currying favor with Falwell or any other member of the religious fundamentalist wannabe-dismantlers of the Constitution.
Goldwater said:
"Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."
"I am a conservative Republican but I believe in democracy and the separation of church and state. I don't have any respect for the Religious Right. There is no place in this country for practicing religion in politics. That goes for Falwell, Robertson and all the rest of these political preachers. They are a detriment to the country."

A more ominous money connection McCain is making by kissing Falwell's ring: Rev. Sun Myung Moon and some very big bucks. Rev. Moon bailed out Falwell's Liberty University to the tune of $3.5 million. Falwell and Moon are financially connected, as is Moon to many religious and political organizations worldwide. Falwell's followers would not be happy if they knew Moon's views and his close ties to Falwell:

Better than Jesus? Falwell also might have been shy about disclosing his alliance with Moon because the Korean's theology upsets many Christians. Moon asserts that Satan corrupted mankind by sexually seducing Eve in the Garden of Eden and that only through sexual purification can mankind be saved. In line with that doctrine, Moon says Jesus failed in his mission to save mankind because he did not procreate.

McCain is no maverick, he's just another political hack with a personal agenda. Stooping so low as to court Falwell's ill-gotten gains and voter influence is proof he has no ethics whatsoever. Goldwater was a Republican conservative who deserved respect. He had real values and a conscience. McCain has neither. Neocons aren't Republicans; they just stole the name. Too bad Goldwater isn't still alive to show McCain up for the hypocritical charlatan he really is. It certainly won't come from the MSM...not now or any time soon. Disgusting.

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Bush Burns Wheel of Fortune

Show me that you really care after all that appropriatin' I did fer y'all, Georgie Boy. And we'll keep this private, away from Big Sky pryin' eyes. We never hearda Jackoff Abramoff, did we buddy? Billings takes on new meaning, hahahaaa. Nothing in life is free, fundraising Tonight!.(Private, no press.)Conrad tells his base,"we won't back down." Quid pro quo is our middle name, show me the money!

WASHINGTON - President Bush plans to host a fundraiser for Sen. Conrad Burns here next month, giving anyone who raises $10,000 for the event a chance to pose for a picture with the nation's commander in chief.
The event will be held the evening of March 27 at the Madison Hotel in downtown Washington, about six blocks from the White House. "Please join President George W. Bush for an evening honoring U.S. Senator Conrad Burns," an invitation to the event announces.
A photo opportunity with the president is available for any person or couple who raises $10,000 for the evening. The reception costs $2,000 per political action committee or $1,000 per person or couple, the invitation states.
All checks go to the Helena-based Friends of Conrad Burns.
The invitation lists the group organizing the event as the Bellwether Consulting Group, a professional fundraising and consulting firm in Alexandria, Va., just outside Washington.
Burns said Wednesday, "I think anybody is happy about having the support of any White House."

Conrad Burns, a major recipient of Abramoff's largesse, is still getting support from the GOP despite his crimes. It makes sense. Unless he's caught having intercourse with young boys and sheep at the same time on the White House lawn, he gets a pass...as long as he's Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, there's money to be funneled to supporters.
Bellwether Consulting
FEC Disclosure Report Friends of Conrad Burns.
Transcript
Remarks by pResident Bush at Friends of Conrad Burns Reception
It looks like the Chimp allowed a couple of his favorite photographers in to take snaps of the event. Jim Young frequently makes Lieboy look saintly. Charles Dharapak also goes for that "halo" look.

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Texas Took Tom's Gun Away

DeLay has lost his license to carry a concealed weapon. I didn't even know he carried a gun. I should have known. He doesn't just twist arms in the cloakroom, he opens his jacket.
Sleazebag Novak Abramoff tells pals he has no dirt on DeLay Nice try by Novakula. He should be indicted for leaking Valerie Plame's name. Treasonous lying bastard.

Former DeLay Aide Enriched By Nonprofit
Bulk of Group's Funds Tied to Abramoff
A top adviser to former House Whip Tom DeLay received more than a third of all the money collected by the U.S. Family Network, a nonprofit organization the adviser created to promote a pro-family political agenda in Congress, according to the group's accounting records.

DeLay's former chief of staff, Edwin A. Buckham, who helped create the group while still in DeLay's employ, and his wife, Wendy, were the principal beneficiaries of the group's $3.02 million in revenue, collecting payments totaling $1,022,729 during a five-year period ending in 2001, public and private records show.
The group's revenue was drawn mostly from clients of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to its records. From an FBI subpoena for the records, it can be inferred that the bureau is exploring whether there were links between the payments and favorable legislative treatment of Abramoff's clients by DeLay's office.
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Great little Texas site all about DeLay and his crimes.
Some nice pics too. brazoriver
Order of Suspension(click to enlarge)

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Pickles King Schmoozefest

We already know that Larry Kink is an FOB...Friend of Bush. The White house has decided to send Pickles out for some gentler fascism and compassionate spin. Larry is only too happy to oblige. The men of the family get interviewed by Paula Zahn, the women by Larry. It works very well for them. Per Larry, Mrs. Bush is just as firmly committed to the pResident's plans as he is. Seems to me the wingers howled when Hillary opined, they said she wasn't elected. Neither was Pickles. Neither was Chimpy.The Larry King Cardiac Foundation...we have invited the first lady, Laura Bush. Part of the Red Dress project. (Maybe to detract from Republican Red...make it about female hearts?) Pickles is so cuuute. "I didn't know that heart disease was the number one killer of women, I thought it was cancer...and I read everything. We thought it was a man's disease." Well, now I feel informed. Larry should have asked Laura's views on the cost of health care but he was more interested in other topics:

KING: There was an article in the "Washington Post" today saying that, when President Reagan ran into problems in his second term, Nancy sort of took some clout and power and suggested and put through some changes, administrative changes. Do you think that's necessary?
L. BUSH: Well, you know, I saw the article. And I know what advice you're telling me the person gave me and the writer gave me.
KING: Sally Quinn.
L. BUSH: And I think it's interesting that -- and this is so typical of Washington, that on the front page of the "Style" section would be the advice to the first lady, but I take advice to heart. I really do.
I mean, a lot of people give the president advice. A lot of people give me advice. A lot of people write...
KING: Well, what did you think of the advice?
L. BUSH: Well, I mean, I think there's some of it that's right and some of it that isn't, of course. And I know that the view from outside is a lot different from the view that George and I have inside, with each other, by ourselves. And there's certainly some advice I would feel free to give him and do; there's other advice that I really don't think I should give him.
KING: Like personnel?
L. BUSH: Well, no, I mean, I would certainly -- that's one of the things we do talk about the most, our personalities.
KING: Oh, yes?
L. BUSH: And I know everyone as well as he does who works here. I mean, I've worked with them, also. And so, you know, certainly, I would give him that kind of advice.

Another "expert" on heart attacks, Reverend Robert Schuller, advised more Bible reading. He said, "And sitting at the computer doesn't help"...I felt a sharp pain in my head and possibly suffered a stroke. Transcript

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Lieboy - Above The Law - Again

From:Old American Century Bush signed the bill with fanfare at a White House ceremony March 9. But after the reporters and guests had left, the White House quietly issued a "signing statement," an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law.

In the statement, Bush said he did not consider himself bound to tell Congress how the Patriot Act powers were being used and that, despite the law's requirements, he could withhold the information if he decided that disclosure would "impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative process of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties."
Thursday, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., said Bush's statement represented "nothing short of a radical effort to manipulate the constitutional separation of powers and evade accountability and responsibility for following the law."

Oh really, Leahy? So why don't you have the BALLS to stand with Feingold on Censure. No more goddamned platitudes! Only Feingold, Boxer and Harkin stand for the people of the United States of America. The rest of the Senate, ALL Republicans and ALL DINOs should be FIRED! Enablers all! That wouldn't leave us very many real Democrats but at least we'd know where we stood once we quit fooling ourselves that these liars actually represent anything but their OWN best interests. People like Lieberwhore have been DINOs for so long it's criminal to attach a "D" to their treasonous names.
Even Chimp's fellow Repukes and ripoff artists KNOW this is illegal and WRONG but they will all lie down and help the thugs to destroy the Constitution. These hypocrites voted for Bush to have complete power. Can't have it both ways, boys. Inappropriate? Troubled? Can't? Be still my heart...such strong language! Traitors!

Bush "Can’t Unilaterally Decide That A 1978 Law Is Out of Date And…Violate The Law" -Sen. Chuck Hagel
"The FISA Act was–created a court set up by the chief justice of the United States to allow a rapid response to requests for surveillance activity in the war on terror. I don’t know of any legal basis to go around that." -Sen. Lindsey Graham
"There is no doubt that this is inappropriate." -Sen. Arlen Specter
"I am troubled by what the basis for the grounds that the administration says that they did these on, the legal basis…" -Sen. Sam Brownback


With "friends" like these, who the hell needs enemies?
The Washington Post's Dana Milbankpaints a vivid sketch of Democratic Senators wanting to avoid answering questions about Sen. Russ Feingold's censure proposal:
"I haven't read it," demurred Barack Obama (Ill.).
"I just don't have enough information," protested Ben Nelson (Neb.)
"I really can't right now," John Kerry (Mass.) said as he hurried past a knot of reporters -- an excuse that fell apart when Kerry was forced into an awkward wait as Capitol Police stopped an aide at the magnetometer.
... ad nauseum

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Santorum & Bush, Ka-ching, Ka-ching

A $1,000 a plate fundraiser at the home of Richard P. Simmons raked in $700,000 for Santorum Friday night.
The event was closed to the news media. "It was very up close and personable. The president gave a mesmerizing speech," said Allegheny County Republican Chairman Bob Glancy. County Councilwoman Jan Rea, of McCandless, who was a member of the host committee, said Bush spoke for more than 30 minutes. He praised Santorum as a leader who doesn't back away from his principles. Bush also talked about the war in Iraq. Santorum and Bush appeared together briefly at the airport, but unlike previous visits Bush has made to Pittsburgh, there was no public event on the agenda.
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Santorum is in a tight, closely watched race against Bob Casey, Jr. As of yesterday, excluding tonight's haul, Santorum was leading in the big bucks this race will cost with $7.8 million in his coffers as opposed to Casey's $3.4 million.
For an extra $10,000 the well-heeled far no-righters could get their pic snapped with a lying thieving killer. Such a deal! Selective coverage only Bush and Cheney appearances lately. Rick wants Bush money but not his poll numbers. Bob Casey holds a 12 point lead over Santorum. GOP Fundraisers are tricky for Republicans with Bush's low approval numbers. For example, Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Bush will Fundfest in D.C. on Monday, far away from Montana voters. Burns has his own Abramoff connection that isn't going away.
Ahhh, look who's accompanying Lieboy.
Video from local Pittsburgh station of Chimp's arrival. In the meantime, Santorum has run afoul of campaign financing rules over his questionable and unethical financial dealings with the anti-choice Urban Family Council. Santorum assisted the group in obtaining $250,000 in federal funds despite their tax exempt status. Santorum doesn't believe in the separation of church and state. Fred Phelps, disgusting homophobe supports Santorum. How appropriate, they're both intolerant jerks without a true Christian bone in their bodies.

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White House in Attack Mode

What the hell else is new...it's the same strategy they've always had: Beat up Democrats at every opportunity and take no prisoners. They can't run on their own sordid record of raping and pillaging so they swiftboat anyone who dissents. Their main job (on our dime) is to raise and steal as much money as possible before their poll numbers are in the toilet. Cheney is the most vile creature to have ever hatched. Lieboy is a very close second. They'll do just about anything to hang on to power.
Guardian Bush, Cheney Go After the Democrats
Friday March 24, 2006 11:16 PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney launched a one-two political punch against Democrats on Friday, saying they are ill-equipped to handle the economic recovery or the war on terror.

Shouldering dismal poll ratings, Bush worked to frame the debate ahead of this year's congressional elections by telling supporters that ``the difference is clear'' between the two parties on how to sustain the recovery.

``If you want the government in your pocket, vote Democrat,'' Bush said. ``If you want to keep more of your hard-earned money, vote Republican.''

Cheney, speaking at a GOP fundraiser in Orlando, Fla., took on Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and party chairman Howard Dean by name. He said leading Democrats have demanded a ``sudden withdrawal from the battle against terrorists in Iraq - the very kind of retreat that Osama bin Laden has been predicting.''

``With that sorry record, the leaders of the Democratic Party have decided to run on the theme of competence. If they're competent to fight this war, then I ought to be singing on 'American Idol,''' Cheney said.

The remark drew robust laughter. ``I don't know why that's funny,'' Cheney said at the event for Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla.
...

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Bar's Money Laundering

I read of this latest atrocity by the Bush Crime Family here at Liberal America. Bar gets a nifty tax write off for donating to Katrina victims in need of unproven "educational software" and the money goes to her son, Silverado Neil and his Ignite software company. It's a Bush trait, funneling money to each other and getting tax cuts, making money any way they can. Nice work if you can get it. No law is too difficult to circumvent for profit if a Bush is involved. They're welfare skimmers of the worst kind, ripping us off at every turn.Bar donates to Neil via Katrina March 24, 2006, Katrina donation ignites debate
HISD says focus on Neil Bush's software didn't violate policy
As Barbara Bush spent two hours championing her son's software company at a Houston middle school Thursday morning, a watchdog group questioned whether the former first lady should be allowed to channel a donation to Neil Bush's Ignite Learning company through Houston's Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
"It's strange that the former first lady would want to do this. If her son's having a rough time of it, couldn't she write him a check?" said Daniel Borochoff, founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a Chicago-based charity watchdog group. "Maybe she isn't aware that people could frown upon this."

Hahahaha...Right. This is the same Bar who doesn't want her "beautiful mind" sullied by news of the war her son started. This is the same crone who thinks the people devastated by Hurricane Katrina, a disaster ignored by one of her stupid criminal sons, are better off living in a sports arena because they were "underprivileged" anyway. She's a cold-hearted conniving overprivileged bitch.Neil's Prostitutes and Business Bailouts Everything they do is at the taxpayers' expense. Neil Bush and his wife, Sharon, leave Denver's federal court in September 1990 after he testified about Silverado Savings and Loan. As President George H.W. Bush's son, Neil was escorted to and from court by the Secret Service.

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Friday 's News Saturation

It's tragic that a mother in Tennessee allegedly shot her minister husband. Really, it's horrible for the children involved. But is this ALL the news available to report today? CNN, MSNBC, FUX, all have anxiety ridden talking heads bemoaning the incident and analyzing the hell out of it. CNN's infotainment brunette said no information is available yet but she promised the audience CNN would closely monitor the story. They will "try to gain insight" since "something went terribly wrong." Brilliant monitor reading. Friends of the family are being interviewed via telephone tearily describing how shocked they are, "She was the perfect mother, the perfect wife, she brought her children to school every day." Sorry but that's not news. People are shot in the U.S. every day. For all we know this "charismatic" minister beat the hell out of his wife every day. Frankly, I don't give a shit. The Winkler children look like they already needed therapy.
What AREN'T the cable gnus channels reporting? What's being done in the White House today that screws the majority of Americans? Hey, "We're at war!" Where's all that GOOD news from Iraq the wingers say isn't being reported?

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Texas Arrests Bar Patrons

Is this America? Well, not really, it's Texas. More than 2,200 people have been arrested or cited by the TABC in Texas bars over the last six months. For drinking. In a bar. It's a bit like shooting fish in a barrel, or shooting domestic quail with clipped wings; not fair. Not fair at all.

Undercover agents target drunks in Texas bars
Carolyn Beck, the commission's spokesman, said the arrests were designed to detain drunks before they left bars and behaved in dangerous ways, such as driving.
"We feel that the only way we're going to get at the drunk-driving problem and the problem of people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this," Ms Beck said. ''There are a lot of dangerous and stupid things people do when they're intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of a car.
"People walk out into traffic and get run over. People jump off balconies trying to reach a swimming pool and miss."
Only those who were clearly drunk were targeted, Ms Beck told the Houston Chronicle. It was not about "people who had a couple of beers with dinner. They are people who are so drunk that they caught the attention of a TABC agent".

Clearly drunk? What exactly catches the attention of an undercover cop? Laughing a bit too loudly, too many trips to the bathroom, cruising enthusiastically for a date, unwieldy dancing techniques? Is the determination based on a breathalyzer? A blood test? The bartenders/vendors can also be arrested or cited for serving the deadly beverages. Should bartenders give breathalyzers to cover their assets?
The safest route for Texans who like a beer, or two or three, is to buy booze at a supermarket and drink at home, alone, with no witnesses. Rather an unhealthy anti-social alternative, but other than total abstinence, it's the only sure way to avoid arrest...unless Texas sends undercover cops to front doors to check for people drinking...or thinking of drinking...or thinking.
When Dick Cheney shot Harry Whittington in the face, he had been drinking, with full knowledge that he would later use a shotgun. Texas should focus on the really dangerous people in their midst who have many DUI convictions, like Dick and Bush, and stop inflicting criminal records on regular citizens for what they might do.

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Wheeling, Catapulting and Softballing

Having learned from his mistake of allowing a few questions from reporters yesterday, Lieboy took his "affable guy" dog and pony show to the very red Wheeling, West Virgina. He meandered and rambled, gulped, hemmed and hawed, waved his arms about, shrugged his shoulders and made quips through a speech consisting of previous sound bites. WaPo Transcript The "town hall" audience consisted of 2,000 folks invited by the Chamber of Commerce: 250 military families, 80 servicemen, local dignitaries, but not Senators Rockefeller and Byrd. He checked his notes on occasion which shouldn't have been necessary while repeating oft used phrases such as "we're making progress" and other platitudes.
CBS short video at the beginning.
The area around Chimp's hotel appearance was sealed tight.Wheeling Police Department Chief Kevin Gessler said, "We're providing just about everything that they've asked for, along with, you know -- the other local agencies, the Ohio County Sheriff's Department, the state police, the Department of Natural Resources, fire department."
Sheriff Thomas Burgoyne said, "It takes up all of our manpower. We have 25 deputies and everybody who's not on their dying death bed will be working that day."

The questioners were "interesting" to Bush, he "appreciated" their questions, so carefully chosen they might as well have been from the White House:
#1
QUESTION: Mr. President, I have a son that's special forces in Iraq. And I have another son...(APPLAUSE)I have another son that's in the Army. He left college to join the Army. He's out in Hawaii. He's got the good duty right now.But I thank God that you're our commander in chief, and I wouldn't want my boys...(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: OK. Thanks.
QUESTION: Again, I thank God you're our commander and chief. You're a man for our times. And I'm a supporter of yours. And I think it's good that you come out and tell your story. And I think you need to keep doing more of it and tell the story and the history of all of this. And God bless you, and I thank you for your service.
BUSH: Well, I appreciate you saying that.
~~~~
#2
BUSH: Are you in school?
QUESTION: Yes.
BUSH: Did you use me as an excuse to skip school?
QUESTION: Of course.(LAUGHTER)Mr. President, I was wondering, actually, how you felt about America's double standard on nuclear energy as far as countries like Iran, India and Israel go.
BUSH: Yes, I appreciate that.I might ask you to clarify your question of double standard.
QUESTION: How we don't allow Iran to have nuclear energy, yet we're supporting India...
BUSH: Yes, I know. I got it.
~~~~
#3
QUESTION: Sir, thank you for being in West Virginia. I'm the recruiting commander of the West Virginia Army National Guard. And there are a lot of National Guardsmen here with you in Wheeling today. West Virginians are proud and very patriotic people. I'd like for you to share with us what you would say to a young person today who would like to join the National Guard and maybe give some encouraging words in that respect.
BUSH: OK. Thanks. Kind of doing your job for you, all right? (LAUGHTER)
~~~~
#4
QUESTION: President Bush, I'm a professional firefighter here in Wheeling, West Virginia.
BUSH: Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE)
QUESTION:And back during 9/11, I lost over 300 of my brothers in New York. And I was glad that you were our president at that time and took the fight to the terrorists.
But as I see, you said earlier about the guy in Afghanistan that is going to convert to Christianity, he may get killed over there for doing that.
Do you have an army of sociologists to go over there and change that country? Or are you hoping that in a couple decades that we can change the mindset over there?
BUSH: I appreciate the question. It's a very legitimate question.
~~~~
#5
QUESTION: Do you like living in the White House?
BUSH: Do I like living in the White House? (APPLAUSE)
Yes, that's a good fair question. Your brother's got one, too. Do you want to back to back them? QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
BUSH: OK.Well, I've been the president for five and a half years.I do like living in the White House -- it's an interesting question -- for some practical reasons. I've got a 45-second commute to my office.(LAUGHTER)The food's pretty good.(LAUGHTER)I've enjoyed every second of the presidency.
~~~~
#6
QUESTION: Good afternoon, Mr. President. It is an honor to be here today. Thank you for coming. Greetings from Columbus, Ohio.
BUSH: There you go.(APPLAUSE)
QUESTION: My husband, who is sitting right here with me...
BUSH: Actually, my grandfather was raised in Columbus, Ohio -- not to change subjects.
QUESTION: Well, that's OK. You can do whatever you want to do.
BUSH: Prescott S. Bush.(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: I have a comment, first of all, and then a real quick question.
I want to let you know that every service at our church, you are by name lifted up in prayer -- and you and your staff and all of our leaders. And we believe in you. We are behind you. And we cannot thank you enough for what you've done to shape our country.(APPLAUSE)Second of all, this is my husband who has returned from a 13- month tour in Tikrit.
BUSH: Oh, yes.Thank you, buddy.(APPLAUSE)Welcome back.(APPLAUSE)
QUESTION: His job while serving was as a broadcast journalist. And he has brought back several DVDs full of wonderful footage of reconstruction, of medical things going on. And I ask you this from the bottom of my heart for a solution to this, because it seems that our major media networks don't want to portray the good. They just want to focus...(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: OK, hold on a second.
QUESTION: They just want to focus on another car bomb or they just want to focus on some more bloodshed or they just want to focus on how they don't agree with you and what you're doing, when they don't even probably know how you're doing what you're doing anyway.
But what can we do to get that footage on CNN, on Fox, to get it on Headline News, to get it on the local news? Because you can send it to the news people -- and I'm sorry I'm rambling -- like I have...
BUSH: So was I, though, for about an hour.(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: ... can you use this, and it'll just end up in a drawer because it's good. It portrays the good.
And if people could see that, if the American people could see it, there would never be another negative word about this conflict.
BUSH: Well, I appreciate that.
~~~~
#7
QUESTION: I'm a senior at the local high school, Wheeling Park High School, and I just want to know what your views are on what type of America my generation will lead.
BUSH: An interesting question.
~~~~
#8
QUESTION: Mr. President, thank you again for coming.
My question: I believe that one of our greatest resources is our self-sufficiency. And as you drive down the road you'll see that our community is dying because of the importation of cheap steel. I'd like to know what your plans are to help alleviate this.
BUSH: Well, as you know, right after I got elected, I put a 201 in place...
(APPLAUSE)
~~~~
#9
QUESTION: Mr. President, I want to say it's a privilege and a blessing to be here with you.
BUSH: Thank you.
QUESTION: And thank you for having integrity since you've been in office -- and character.(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Thank you, sir.
QUESTION: My name is Michael Ganoe. I'm statewide field director for the campaign for Hiram Lewis for U.S. Senate.
And I appreciated what you stated earlier about politicians. And as you close today -- I did two years of volunteer work for the Republican Party while I worked a full-time job, and it paid off for me in this position now.
And I see folks that are increasingly discouraged with the status quo because the difference...
BUSH: No campaign speeches.
QUESTION: No, sir, I'm not. I'm not.
BUSH: OK.
QUESTION: My only question is, what would you say to those, whether Democrat or Republican -- how could you encourage those that are dissatisfied with the status quo?
~~~~
Chimp's "fantastic" answers are in the transcript above.
She didn't give her name but #3 has to be this woman.
MAJ A. Kristine McCray-Wood


#9 did give his name and a pitch for his candidate, Lewis.
Michael Ganoe, has quite the religious little bio. (Original link scrubbed, replaced with cached copy and then by a right wing Lewis site...hmmm. What has Mr. Ganoe got to hide that he removed his background from the internet one day after his staged appearance with Bush?)

Oh yes, just a normal town hall meeting where all 2,000 people were very carefully screened ahead of time and prepped to give the pResident some support. Bubble Boy is back to business as usual. It was a load of codswallop aimed at his base. How much longer will the sheep buy it? People are dying while this bastard runs around "selling" his war.

~~~~~~~~
Note:
Michael Ganoe appears to have scrubbed information since the "question" to Bush.
From Washington Irving High School, to Florida and back few hits...one wonders why.

Michael Ganoe with Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito. Michael grew up in Clarksburg and was working in Florida when he saw Hiram Lewis on Hardball. Energized by the Hardball interview, Michael left his job in Florida and came back to West Virginia to work for Hiram to bring hope and opportunity to the state of West Virginia. Michael is coordinating the grassroots effort statewide as the statewide Field Director for Lewis for Senate, Inc.

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Suspicious Diversion at White House

The timing is right. Bush was caught in more lies at his suppress conference yesterday so a diversion of the terror-type was needed today. A reminder to the sheep of how dangerous life is for the Chimp. Speculation was running rampant for over an hour obliterating all other news. Bomb squads, dogs, X-ray machines, investigators, robots, breathless reporting leading to "thankfully an all-clear" from the secret service. Suspicious package investigated at White House gate
The package was noted just after President Bush left via helicopter from the South Lawn -- on the other side of the White House -- for a trip to Wheeling, West Virginia.
...
Reporters, cameramen and photographers were told to remain inside the briefing room while officers investigated.
...
CNN mentioned 9/11 so many times I almost expected a plane to crash into the White House any second. "We have to report these things post 9/11."-John King, MSNBC. He must be paid by the number of times he mentions 9/11. He gave reminders of the security precautions since 9/11. It sure sounded dangerous. MSNBC said authorities might "blow up something" but that didn't happen. Cable non-news was drenched with scary terms. Anything to divert attention from the lies? Pretzel boy was "briefed" after he left on Marine One to give a speech on terror to 250 "military families" in West Virginia. What? back to another hand-picked audience? He'll be taking questions they say. But not from reporters.
Hey, all you "reporters", see what happens if you ask one too many questions? You can't in or out of the White House. Trapped by somebody's lunch bag? We're not being told what it really was. A male subject "known" to the White House is in custody since he apparently does this all the time. He has been read his rights and is reassuringly not violent. "Protocol" is being followed. The harmless package has been "rendered" safe. Thank Ghod. What a relief..but for whom?

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Bush "Press" Conference - Video

C-SPAN
Scroll to:
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Pres. Bush News Conference (3/21/2006)
~~~

56:20 of lies and spin. To the talking heads on cable gnus who claim this was an "unscripted" press conference why did the pResident have a list of questioners to which he frequently referred and why did he say of one question regarding Social Security, "..it wasn't on the list" (approx 29 minutes) and even more telling, "Let's see here...they've told me what to say" at 43:13. Unscripted? Please. Nothing he does is unscripted.

Rove is taking names.

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McCain Bent The Law Today

Today Lipstick-on-a-Pig campaigned in Beverly Hills with Ahnuld. Schwarzenegger raked in $2.5 million which he'll split with the State Republican party. McCain sidestepped his own McCain-Feingold Law using a little disclaimer at the bottom of the invitation. (Below) McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform law states that it is illegal for federal officials (McCain) to solicit funds for candidates (Schwarzenegger) in statewide races. What happened to his holier-than-thou hue and cry? McCain is a lying hypocrite and a clone of Bush despite his "maverick" moniker. What a sleazbag.

Schwarzenegger, GOP raise $2.5 million at SoCal fundraiser

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, AP Political Writer

Monday, March 20, 2006
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state GOP collected an estimated $2.5 million Monday at a fundraiser headlined by Sen. John McCain, as scores of union members protested outside the event calling for the governor's ouster in November.

For Schwarzenegger, the closed-door dinner begins to replenish a political fund drained last year by his costly and losing campaign to enact ballot proposals to slow state spending and curb public union power in Sacramento. Top donors kicked in as much as $100,000 to attend the dinner and reception.
...

The event was headlined by McCain, R-Ariz., who was enlisted by Schwarzenegger last year to help campaign for the governor's ballot proposals. The measures were defeated by voters in November.

McCain has urged Schwarzenegger to push for campaign finance reforms in California in 2006. But the governor has spent much of his time talking about building highways, levees and schools, not restraining the flow of campaign dollars.

McCain spokesman Craig Goldman said that to his knowledge, the senator and governor did not discuss campaign finance reform at the fundraiser. McCain has said in the past he's uncomfortable with the level of fundraising in California elections, but that candidates like the governor must play within the current rules to be competitive.

"He's a good friend of the governor's, and a big supporter of him," Goldman said. "If he had his wish come true, it would be that all states fall under the federal (campaign) guidelines, to limit the amount of money needed in campaigns."

Democrats have filed a complaint with federal regulators arguing McCain was violating federal law by appearing at Monday's event, which asked for checks well above federal limits. But legal advisers for McCain say there is no conflict since the money is being raised by Schwarzenegger and the party, not McCain.

The event, conducted under heavy security at the Beverly Hilton, was hosted by donors from the entertainment and business elite, including "The Terminator" director James Cameron, Interscope Records chief Jimmy Iovine, Yahoo Inc. Chairman Terry Semel and Univision Communications Inc. Chairman A. Jerrold Perenchio.

...
(From betterca.com)
List of donors and the McCain disclaimer:


And speaking of pigs...Ahnuld's extravagance is totally disgusting.
Spending May Prove Costly to Governor
Millions on public events and private jets. Thousands on top-tier catering and expense auditing. Well-funded foes could gain an edge.
...
Schwarzenegger hires scores of the best political operatives, travels exclusively by private jet and insists on a sought-after cinematographer to film his commercials — productions that involve casting agents, caterers, dry-cleaners. In flashiness and magnitude, his public appearances have exceeded anything else in modern California politics.
...
No wonder he has to have so many fundraisers, legal or not.

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As usual, Bush is a LIAR!

Today in Cleveland, the lying sack of shit gave a "speech" about how well things are going in Iraq and how much progress is being made as an explanation for his optimism. He lied all over the place but the most glaring lie, and there were many from which to choose, was this one:video
"Uh, first uh, just if I might correct a misperception, I...I don't think we ever said, at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September the eleventh unh...and, and, and, Saddam Hussein."-Liar-in-Thief
Oh really? No connection? You piece of crap!
Presidential Letter
The use of armed forces against Iraq is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or person who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. Lieboy...letter to Congress March 21, 2003

As for the "questions"...(Transcript Q & A)the questioners were selected by the City Club of Cleveland. None of them sounded like non-Republicans. I doubt that the questions weren't vetted ahead of time (although they did appear "tougher")...he has a team (overzealous staffer) that shows up ahead of time and nobody with a truly dissenting opinion is allowed near him. The press is making hoopla about the idiot boy taking "unscripted" questions. Bullshit. More unscripted than USUAL for Bubble Boy. At the very least he had an idea of the topics. Nothing he does is unscripted in public. Perhaps the "press" should take note of how Bush blamed media coverage for the war not looking so good.

State of the Union - January 29, 2002
Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror.
...

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic.

Keith Olbermann nailed it; great video:
Bush makes false claim about Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda


Bush: "Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al-Qaeda."

Olbermann: "Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda in the same sentence separated by seven words. Sept. 11th and Saddam Hussein -two sentences later, separated by six words. In a moment Craig Crawford joins me to discuss the fundamental remaining question. Who does the President think he's F'n kidding?"

Olbermann's Video-Windows
Olbermann's Video-QT
From:crooksandliars.com
~~~~
Source of quote used by Olbermann:
State of the Union - January 28th, 2003

~~~

Bloody swine...no offense meant to pigs.
Video
"History has showed us that Democracies don't war"- Lieboy-the-Illiterate

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No Blood, No Foul - The Black Room

If there was any doubt that the U.S. is THE number one terrorist in the world, it's time to discard any such misconceptions. We have seen torture pictures from Abu Ghraib, supposedly due to close in three months. Out of sight out of mind. The prisoners at Guantanamo are being force fed. We'd much rather torture people to death than let them die of starvation. One suicide note from Gitmo has been declassified. How many haven't? We are currently "holding" over 14,000 Iraqis with no charges or trials in miscellaneous prisons in Iraq and elsewhere. Our numbed troops, with only each other to rely upon, have been USED by Rumsfeld's "elite" special ops monsters to inflict horrors on prisoners in the name of protecting each other from IEDs and attacks and capturing Abu Musab Zarqawi. Zarqawi's picture is flashed on Cable Gnus every time the Neocons want to ramp up the fear of terrorists under every bed. Rumsfeld brought in Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller from Guantanamo to make Abu Ghraib hell on earth for Iraqis, to interrogate naked prisoners, and other fun techniques that don't work for obtaining information. If it was good enough for the prisoners at Gitmo it was good enough for prisoners held in Iraq. And now we're hearing of worse horrors. Task Force 6-26
Before and After Abu Ghraib, a U.S. Unit Abused Detainees
ERIC SCHMITT and CAROLYN MARSHALL, NYTimes
March 19, 2006

As the Iraqi insurgency intensified in early 2004, an elite Special Operations forces unit converted one of Saddam Hussein's former military bases near Baghdad into a top-secret detention center. There, American soldiers made one of the former Iraqi government's torture chambers into their own interrogation cell. They named it the Black Room.

In the windowless, jet-black garage-size room, some soldiers beat prisoners with rifle butts, yelled and spit in their faces and, in a nearby area, used detainees for target practice in a game of jailer paintball. Their intention was to extract information to help hunt down Iraq's most-wanted terrorist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to Defense Department personnel who served with the unit or were briefed on its operations.
The Black Room was part of a temporary detention site at Camp Nama, the secret headquarters of a shadowy military unit known as Task Force 6-26. Located at Baghdad International Airport, the camp was the first stop for many insurgents on their way to the Abu Ghraib prison a few miles away.

Placards posted by soldiers at the detention area advised, "NO BLOOD, NO FOUL." The slogan, as one Defense Department official explained, reflected an adage adopted by Task Force 6-26: "If you don't make them bleed, they can't prosecute for it." According to Pentagon specialists who worked with the unit, prisoners at Camp Nama often disappeared into a detention black hole, barred from access to lawyers or relatives, and confined for weeks without charges. "The reality is, there were no rules there," another Pentagon official said.
...(NY Times link)
Camp Nama

(Click to enlarge)
Our "leadership" of lying Chickenhawks who have never seen a day of combat (or misery) in their lives and who are such bastards they inflict pain and suffering on innocent people should all be in prison for war crimes.That includes all their accomplices in the media who have sold this propaganda to America. Shit rolls downhill. The military leaders who know what's happening need to mutiny against the unelected felons who call the shots with impunity and shame the military and the nation. Jack Murtha said today that Rumsfeld and Cheney should resign. That would be a start. It's time for this nightmare to end.

In June 2004, Stephen A. Cambone, a top Pentagon official, ordered his deputy, Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, to look into allegations of detainee abuse at Camp Nama.

"We don't know."-Dick Cheney when pressed on whether there was a link between Iraq and 11 September during a TV interview, September 2003.
"We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the 11 September attacks"-Bush, September 2003

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Anti-War, Anti-Bush Protest Pics

Bush and his war...as popular as HELL!
Worldwide protests on Saturday March 18, 2006.


New York and Chicago


Toronto and Los Angeles


Sydney and Rome


Barcelona and Washington


New York and New Haven


San Francisco and Roxbury


Istanbul and more cities around the globe...
More pictures
(click pics for larger view)
Anti War Rallies Mark Anniversary

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